The Unofficial Blogger of the Chicago Cubs in Canada

Chicago Cubs Try To Get Bats Going In LA

This is a different Chicago Cubs team than in the past. I mean, the recent past past. The Cubs are nestled into Los Angeles and in a few hours will be heading down to the park to take in some BP and get the show going for tonight.

Why would I call it a show? Because the last time Jake Arrieta pitched against the Dodgers, a no hitter broke out. I doubt that’ll happen tonight but now that the Cubs have gotten over that giant hurdle called Clayton Kershaw, they can focus on the prize. Sunday’s loss was good for the team. Hopefully it gave them some perspective on what wasn’t working and what was working right. What isn’t working is the bats.

“We’ve just got to get back to our plan,” Addison Russell said. “Get back to playing Cubbie baseball. Grinding at-bats and extend that pitcher a little bit. Try to get in that bullpen a little earlier.”

Yeah Russell, you’re 1 and 22 this post season. Time to get that bat rolling again. By no means have the Cubs been slouches on pitching and defence, but what got them to this point were the bats. Kris Bryant‘s possible MVP season was due in part to 39 HR. They should change the batting order move up Javier Baez and put Ben Zobrist in the number 2 spot.

“I have considered different thoughts,” Joe Maddon said prior to the Cubs’ workout Monday. “Like I said, when you get to this point, you’ve got five games left to really make it right, as opposed to 75 to make it right. There is a difference with that. There are certain things you’d do in the middle of the season in order to move something along, not just during the playoffs.”

I’m a little worried about Arrieta’s pitching and control issues he’s had this season but if anyone can turn the Cubs’ fortunes around, it’s Arrieta. The Cubs fortunes haven’t really been turned around after just one loss but this is the NLCS and every one run loss can be humiliating to any team. It can knock off their equilibrium. Look what’s happening to the Blue Jays? I’m still stunned along with the rest of Canada.

“So, to be even here [in the series], we like our chances moving forward,” Arrieta said. “Obviously, our lineup stacks up just about as good as anybody’s. We’ve got our health with us, which is great. We like playing in this park.”

So, the Cubs are three wins away from being in the World Series. A spot they haven’t been to since 1945. Beatlemania and Elvis Presley’s pelvis weren’t even a thought.